Dernier And Trillo Start Hitting

Dernier, starting his first game since June 14 because of a shoulder injury, had two hits and a walk. Trillo, starting for the first time at first base since July 11, had two hits and two RBIs. He also made two fine defensive plays.

Trillo is 12-for-26 against Dodger starter Rick Honeycutt.

``It was another lucky day for me,`` said Trillo, whose last start was against Honeycutt in Los Angeles. He had three hits in that contest.

``I seemed to hit the ball good and I made a good (defensive) play. This is not exactly how I want to see it happen, to start a game every two weeks or every three weeks. But, what can I say? What can I do? I can`t do much. He

(manager Gene Michael) is the boss and he can do whatever he wants to do. It`s his club. All I got to do is follow orders.``

``Trillo has stepped in there twice now and done the job. I guess I haven`t used him enough. But he`ll get some more chances to play,`` said Michael. ``Both Trillo and Dernier swung the bats well today.``

-- The Cubs` hit a season-high six doubles Saturday.

-- The Cubs have drawn 273,833 paid fans to Wrigley Field in this nine-game homestand. That`s an average of 30,426.

-- Injured starting pitcher Rick Sutcliffe admits his big contract has him performing under pressure. He hopes to be able to return to the mound next week in Philadelphia.

``It (pressure) is real because you`ve seen me out there overthrowing most of the year,`` said Sutcliffe. ``That`s pressure from what? I don`t know. From expecting a lot out of myself, the contract . . . it`s probably a combination of things. It`s got to stop.``

-- After six weeks on the job, Michael says it`s tougher managing in the National League than in the American League.

``You have to make more maneuvers here with the pitchers. You take a pitcher out of the game in the American League when he`s tired or you think he`s tired,`` said Michael. ``When I was in the American League (managing the Yankees), I always knew the National League was tougher to manage in. I just didn`t have to admit it then.``

-- Dallas Green sees room for improvement from several key veterans.

``I think Leon (Durham) is going to come on a little better in the second half. He has to in order to make us a better ballclub,`` said Green.

``Ryne Sandberg went through a little bit of a down time and I think Keith Moreland went through a bad down time, but I think he`ll be all right. Gary Matthews has started to hit the ball for us and Ronnie (Cey) has contributed.``